1914" presented by The Cabaret Club, Mawgan Porth, Seen by Margaret Cortis and Sally Robinson 24 Mar h 2!

14 T"# S"$%: This cabaret show was a nostalgic cavalcade, mostly of musical numbers relating to the years 1914 - 1918, and included one or two more modern items which were appropriate for the theme. PR#S#&T'T($& Sets) the ondon !treet had a well-painted bac"cloth of a town street, with #The $oyal %a"& pub in the distance and a very good bric"-effect door and step on stage left. The 'usical (all setting loo"ed appropriate with the draped and swagged curtains echoing the draped costumes of the lady performers. The 'unitions )actory bac"drop and legs provided a splendid picture of the inside of an early *+th century factory stac"ed with bomb shells. The final set for the Trenches scene was perfect: a simple view of a wartime battlefield from the trenches depicting the terrible conditions under which the soldiers fought. The blea"ness of the scene - familiar to us all from illustrations and filmed pictures, and painted in grey, blac" and white - was really ,uite moving. *ighting and Sound) the lighting plot was fairly simple and appropriate for each section: bright and cheerful for the ondon !treet, a little more subdued for the 'usic (all, and a cold light for the trenches. !olo performers were spotlit and the lighting cues were ta"en up well. The balance of sound was e-cellent: the broadcast of recorded music was well .udged for the volume of voices on stage, and the casts/ face mi"es were very well controlled - we only noticed one occasion when the mi"e wasn/t wor"ing 0 There were good sound and lighting effects for the 1avalry 1harge section. Costu+e) the costumes in this production were e-cellent, from the opening number where the light glinted on the ladies/ satin s"irts and the men all loo"ed .ust right in their shirts, waistcoats and caps. The children/s navy dresses and hats were lovely. !traw hats were appropriate for the ladies, and a pretty hat appeared for the #2here did you get that hat3& number. 2e saw a colourful array of well-fitting music-hall performers/ costumes and feather headdresses, the man on the flying trape4e loo"ed .ust right, the children/s net s"irts were pretty and the clown outfits a delight. The tail-coat and battered top-hat for 5urlington 5ertie loo"ed good, as did the sailor and soldier outfits for the youngsters, and the !ailor 6irls and the 5eautiful 7oll loo"ed a treat 8loved the union flag underpants09 The :early ;ing and <ueen costumes were lovely The munitions wor"ers were splendid in their white aprons, blouses and turbans, if rather clean.

The array of soldiers/ uniforms and accessories was e-cellent - the well-fitting outfits lent a great air of authenticity to the scene with the along with the tin hats and webbing. The finale costumes in red white and blue were outstanding. The blue dresses decorated with poppies were superb and the long white dresses a good contrast. The men loo"ed splendid in their red shirts. Ma,eup) ma"eup was well .udged for the closeness of the audience to the stage, and the children were natural-loo"ing. 'a"eup for the !ailor 6irls was colourful, and there were good wigs for the men and the 5lac" and 2hite number. Props) we saw really good props, particularly the flying trape4e which wor"ed so smoothly. There was a fine bird cage for #'y %ld 'an& and the sandbags and general detritus of the trenches created a most authentic scene. The wooden horses were well made, and the red, white and blue bunting added to the wartime feeling. 2e loved the period posters - so in "eeping with the era. ST'-# .(R#CT($& There was a very good balance of musical numbers and comic items in this programme. The allocation of solo numbers to everyone in the cast was well thought-out. =t was a ,uic"-fire presentation moving slic"ly from one scene to another, a fine achievement with so many people on such a small stage, though occasionally the children seemed a little unco-ordinated. =t was a shame the youngsters were not placed behind the trape4e in that scene so that we could have seen the reaction in their faces. 1horeography seemed absolutely appropriate to each number, not over-ambitious in the limited space, and yet "eeping the picture before us always on the move. This did rather elongate every number. 2ords of the songs seemed to be well-"nown, especially by those at the front of the stage. 1ommunication with the audience was splendid at all times, and the performance of the chorus numbers was always energetic and musically sound. %ccasional harmonies enhanced numbers. The comic moments of the !ardines, the 5lue $idge 'ountains, %h you 5eautiful 7oll, and the !ailor 6irls were e-actly the right length and very well directed, lightening the mood between groups of more serious songs. There was a careful approach to the final Trenches scene as the comedy and loud musical numbers were calmed down to prepare us for the tragedy. The picture of the dead and dying soldiers standing stoc" still on stage will stay in the memory for a long time. There was a real feeling of >longing to be home/ coming from the soldiers. The interlude with the 6erman soldiers was well-observed - the whole episode treated with great sensitivity without overdramatising. =t was a huge body of wor", gathering together all the ?+-odd musical numbers and balancing up the lyrical with the rhythmical. =nclusion of numbers with all the young people created a pleasant contrast to the adult/ songs.

M/S(C'* .(R#CT($& The variety in the recorded musical accompaniment was admirable, from full orchestral bac"ing to simple piano and "eyboard, vibraphone, hon"y-ton" piano, and rhythm players. @ marvellous selection of different styles was presented, and the well-rehearsed chorus and soloists performed nearly perfectly. There was some delay at the start of some songs and then a bit of a scramble at the end. 2e sometimes heard recorded singing and wondered if some of the chorus numbers were #clic"-trac"ed&. .'&C# .(R#CT($& :erforming so many musical numbers was a great challenge to the chorus members, and the adult members of the cast delivered their dances with especially good accuracy. The children were also delightful to watch, though not always ,uite so well-rehearsed. 1risp movement, first seen in #'e %ld 5amboo&, was repeated in so many of the numbers it would be difficult to list them all, but the ones that stood out were the opening number #'e %ld 5amboo&, #)eed the 5irds& , #2hen )ather papered the parlour&, the # ambeth 2al"&, the 5lac" and 2hite 7ance, #= need a (ero&, #7id.a Aver&, and the blue ladies in #They dance alone&. C$&T#&T) T(A %B7%B !T$AAT) a terrific punchy number of #'e %ld 5amboo& opened the show, ta"en at a good speed and delivered with lots of smiles and energetic movements. #Two ittle 5oys& with their hobby horses was a poignant number, and #'y %ld 'an said follow the Can& was a splendid music-hall performance. !pecial mention to the soloist of #%n The !treet 2here Dou ive.& #)eed the birds& was also very well done. The comical entry of the men going into the !ardine )actory was a great moment. )our girls performed #!ister !uffragette& very well with good harmonies, and #!tanding on the 1orner& was a lively scene with good singing and movement. #)ather 7ear )ather& and #2hen )ather papered the :arlour& were well delivered by the young members of the cast, whose words were mostly "nown, and these scenes were well acted. T(A 'E!=1 (@ ) slightly more subdued lighting gave this section a more theatrical feel, and opened with an entertaining aurel and (ardy #5lue $idge 'ountains& which we .udged was partly mimed to recorded voices. #;ing and 1ountry& from all the lovely ladies in their fishnets and feathery headdresses was another splendid number with a first-class soloist. #The ambeth 2al"& was very good, and the #'an on the )lying Trape4e& was an amusing company episode. The young ones did well again with #The 1lown in 'e& and #The aughing :oliceman&, and #@ny %ld =ron& was a terrific performance - e-cellent diction and pro.ection. #%h you 5eautiful 7oll& was a very funny coupling of a small man 8female9 and a very large woman 8male9, and the three hefty gentlemen who sang as ladies in #!ailor 6irls&

were hilarious. #5urlington 5ertie& was spar"ling, the lady singer ma"ing e-cellent eye contact with the audience. 2e en.oyed the 5lac" and 2hite dance which was well rehearsed and effective. =n #@ (undred Dears from today& the singer delivered the number well, and the first half ended with a super #@le-ander/s $agtime 5and& from the whole company. T(A 'EB=T=%B! )@1T%$D: this atmospheric scene opened with a good solo performance in #= need a (ero&, accompanied by a strong ladies/ chorus and recorded singers. #$issoles& was very amusing with the use of the printed letters. )urther good comedy was performed by the group who gave us #%oh >ee didn/t&, and the soloist and youngsters delivered #= didn/t $aise my boy to be a soldier& with feeling. #;eep the (ome )ires 5urning& was one of the best chorus numbers in the show, and #7id.a Aver& was also first-class. #5illy don/t be a hero& was presented ,uite dramatically, and #5less >em @ll& was sung with conviction. #:ac" up your troubles& - an unusual arrangement - #Tipperary& and #6oodbyeee& were well done, and #The ast )arewell& was very moving. #2hen Tommy comes marching home& sung in front of tabs by the ladies was well performed by soloist and chorus. T(A T$AB1(A!: the numbers in this section were carefully selected to run smoothly from one aspect of the terrible situation to another. # ast Bight = had the strangest dream& was beautifully delivered by the trio of men, and #= want to go home& touched the heart. There was a nice reprise of #Two ittle 5oys&, and a moving moment when two young 6erman boys brought in the football for one of the most famous games in history. This episode with 6erman and Anglish soldiers singing #@ll together now& was very moving. #They shall not grow old& was an appropriate insert, and #Turning& was also a good choice and well performed. #They dance alone& was another lovely number. #Dou/re the Coice& was terrific with a splendid soloist and admirably signed. # ight a 1andle for :eace& was very effective with the electric candles held by the ladies in blue. #5ac" in the old $outine& sent the audience home with spirits lifted after the sadness of the Trenches scenes. #&.#'0$/R, $R(-(&'*(T1 '&. 'TT'(&M#&T) !o many musical numbers performed, and all with accuracy, musicality and enthusiasm0 There was a good balance of .ollity and gentleness - difficult to achieve with a recorded accompaniment and the inevitable lac" of spontaneity. =t was good to see so many children being encouraged to .oin in - ensuring the future of the 1lub. =t was a fine evening/s entertainment, but it was rather too long - have you considered starting your shows at F.G+ 3 Thank you, Cabaret Club, for inviting the CDA to your production again. We enjoyed our evening with you very much, but would have appreciated seats a little nearer the stage with a clearer view. We were so grateful for the list of songs you provided for us invaluable in putting our report together ! "t was a great evening#s entertainment. :lease let me "now if you would li"e an e-mail copy of this report to circulate to your

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